Synthesis of telechelic polymers initiated with selected functional groupsby catalytic chain transfer

Catalytic chain transfer is found to be useful for making telechelic oligom ers with a variety of initiating groups in a one-step reaction procedure. T wo olefinic components are required, the first being a normal free-radical- polymerizable monomer such as a methacrylate. The second is a vicinal or ot her olefin generally considered to be unreactive in free radical polymeriza tions. Under conditions of radical polymerization in the presence of a CCT catalyst, the copolymer that results incorporates predominantly one molecul e of the second component at the initiation of each polymer chain. The term inal end group is a geminal double bond. This geminal-disubstituted end gro up is radically polymerizable and would allow the preparation of functional ized arms on graft polymers. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.